It were happy if we studied Nature more in natural things; and acted according to Nature; whose rules are few, plain and most reasonable.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Content not thyself that thou art virtuous in the general: for one link being wanting, the chain is defective.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Love labour: for if thou dost not want it for food, thou mayest for physique. It is wholesome for the body, and good for the mind. It prevents the fruits of idleness, which many times come of nothing to do, and leads many to do what is worse than nothing.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Nothing does Reason more right, than the coolness of those that offer it. For truth often suffers more by the Heat of its defenders, than from the arguments of its opposers.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Oppression makes a poor country.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

If Man be the Index or Epitomy of the World, as Philosophers tell us, we have only to read our selves well to be learned in it.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

If love be not thy chiefest motive, thou wilt soon grow weary of a married state, and stray from thy promise, to search out thy pleasures in forbidden places.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Passion is a sort of fever in the mind, which ever leaves us weaker than it found us.... It more than anything deprives us of the use of our judgment; for it raises a dust very hard to see through. Like wine, whose lees fly by being jogg'd, it is too muddy to drink.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

If we would amend the world, we should mend our selves; and teach our children to be, not what we are, but what they should be.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Choose a friend as thou dost a wife, 'till Death separate you.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

It is wise not to seek a secret, and honest not to reveal one.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

It is a cruel folly to offer up to ostentation so many lives of creatures, as make up the state of our treats; as it is a prodigal one to spend more in sauce than in meat.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

The country life is to be preferr'd; for there we see the works of God; but in cities little else but the works of men.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

It is too frequent to begin with God and end with the World. But He is the good man's Beginning and End; his Alpha and Omega.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Only trust thy self and another shall not betray thee.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

To delay justice is injustice.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Where judgment has wit to express it, there's the best orator.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Despise no body, nor no condition; lest it come to be thine own.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

All excess is ill, but drunkenness is of the worst sort. It spoils health, dismounts the mind, and unmans men. It reveals secrets, is quarrelsome, lascivious, impudent, dangerous and mad. In fine, he that is drunk is not a man: because he is so long void of Reason, that distinguishes a Man from a Beast.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Never give out while there is hope; but hope not beyond reason, for that shows more desire than judgment.

Dislike what deserves it, but never hate: for that is of the nature of malice; which is almost ever to persons, not things, and is one of the blackest qualities sin begets in the soul.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Cunning to wise, is as an Ape to a Man.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Haste makes work which caution prevents.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

For disappointments, that come not by our own folly, they are the trials or corrections of Heaven: and it is our own fault, if they prove not our advantage.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

He that espouses parties, can hardly divorce himself from their fate; and more fall with their party than rise with it.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Choose thy clothes by thine own eyes, not another's.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Experience is a safe guide.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

'Tis no sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Nothing shows our weakness more than to be so sharp-sighted at spying other men's faults, and so purblind about our own.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

There is a troublesome humor some men have, that if they may not lead, they will not follow; but had rather a thing were never done, than not done their own way, tho' other ways very desirable.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

The usefulest truths are the plainest.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

If thou would'st be happy, bring thy mind to thy condition, and have an indifference for more than what is sufficient.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Nor must we always be neutral where our neighbors are concerned: for tho' meddling is a fault, helping is a duty.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Not to be provok'd is best: But if mov'd, never correct till the fume is spent; for every stroke our fury strikes, is sure to hit our selves at last.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

In all debates, let Truth be thy aim, not Victory.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

To be virtuous is to overcome our evil inclinations. If thou hast not conquer'd thyself in that which is thy own particular weakness, thou hast no title to virtue, tho' thou art free of other men's.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Justice is justly represented blind, because she sees no difference in the parties concerned. She has but one scale and weight, for rich and poor, great and small.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Men are generally more careful of the breed of their horses and dogs than of their children.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Friends are true twins in soul.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Knowledge is the treasure, but judgment the treasurer of a wise man. He that has more knowledge than judgment, is made for another man's use more than his own.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

No man is compelled to evil; his consent only makes it his.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

They that censure, should practice. Or else let them have the first stone, and the last too.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Never marry but for love; but see that thou lov'st what is lovely.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

To be dexterous in danger is a virtue; but to court danger to show it, is weakness.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

They have a right to censure, that have a heart to help.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Let the people think they govern, and they will be govern'd.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

But in marriage do thou be wise; prefer the Person before Money, Virtue before Beauty, the Mind before the Body: Then thou hast a Wife, a Friend, a Companion, a Second Self; one that bears an equal Share with thee in all thy toils and troubles.

WILLIAM PENN, Some Fruits of Solitude

Lend not beyond thy ability, nor refuse to lend out of thy ability; especially when it will help others more than it can hurt thee.